Healthy S'mores Bars

Need a delicious chocolatey dessert that will satisfy cravings and leave you feeling full of joy? Make Healthy S'mores Bars! They're incredibly easy and they taste just like the real campfire-toasted deal.

How to make s'mores bars:

Even better than the "real" thing

I can confidently say that I've never met anyone who doesn't like s'mores. A classic summer staple, s'mores are the most delicious treats, made from the simplest ingredients! Get a fire going, roast the marshmallows, and assemble with graham crackers and a square of chocolate.

The gooier the marshmallows, the better! The thought alone sends me right back to childhood.

I recently had a craving for these little treats of joy, but since it hasn't exactly been a warm spring and we haven't had an outdoor bonfire yet, I was forced to get creative. But, I'm so glad I did!

These healthy s'mores bars turned out to be even better than I could've hoped, and they will undoubtedly become a staple in my dessert lineup. You're going to absolutely love these things. Let's dive into the how-to!

Ingredients included in s'mores bars

We'll be using two sets of ingredients to make these tasty dessert bars. We'll use a blend of almond flour and maple syrup (and a few other things) for the crust, and then we'll use traditional s'mores ingredients for the layers!

Crust:

• Almond flour
• Coconut oil
• Maple syrup
• Vanilla
• Salt

Layers:

• Chocolate chips*
• Mini marshmallows
• Graham crackers

*Save a handful of chocolate chips for the very top layer.

Kitchen tools you'll need on deck

You'll only need four items to complete this recipe! It couldn't be simpler unless it baked itself!

• Bread pan
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowl
• Stirring spatula

For preparing your ingredients, grab the following measuring cups: ¼ tsp, 1 tsp, ¼ cup, ½ cup, ¾ cup, and 1 cup.

How to make healthy s'mores bars

Making s'mores snack bars is pretty simple. It will require two baking portions, but neither interval takes too much time. Expect this treat to take about an hour from start to finish. Trust me, the hour wait will be well worth it!

Start making your healthy s'mores bars by preheating the oven to 375F and lining a bread pan with parchment paper. I used an 8x4 pan.

Next, grab a small bowl and mix the almond flour, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt until everything is well combined.

Form this mixture into the bottom of the bread pan. This will be the crust.

Bake it for 15-17 minutes, or until it reaches a golden brown color. When it's done, remove it from the oven and allow it to fully cool.

Turn the oven down to 350F.

After the crust has cooled for at least 15 minutes, add the chocolte chips in an even layer. Then add the marshmallows and the graham crackers on top.

Sprinkle the top layer with a few more chocolate chips.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the marshmallows are golden brown. Then, take everything out of the oven.

Let everything cool for 30 minutes before placing in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

Enjoy!

Answering your burning s'mores questions

Here are some tips and tricks that will help you prepare this recipe to perfection!

Do I have to use an 8x4 pan?
You do not! You can use any size pan you have. The larger the pan the thinner the bars will be.

Do I have to bake this recipe a second time?
If you want the ooey gooey consistency of the marshmallow bars you're used to making, you'll want to give this dish a second round in the oven. The way that the ingredients melt together is too good!

Can I use white chocolate?
Yes, yes, and yes! White chocolate will totally work to give this recipe a twist. I haven't tried it, but I'm sure it tastes absolutely delicious.

How to store healthy s'mores bars
S'mores bars can be stored on the counter or in the fridge. Keep them in an airtight container to ensure that they stay nice and fresh!

Healthy s'mores bars substitution options

Missing an ingredient? Don't worry! Many of the items in this dish can be substituted with similar swaps. Here's a quick list of what you can use.

• Coconut oil: Out of coconut oil? That's okay! Any similar high fat baking oil will work in this recipe (like vegetable or canola).
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup can be replaced with honey. If using this swap, start with a smaller amount and add more to taste.
• Chocolate chips: I think the chocolate is the best part of this recipe, but you can use something else if you'd prefer! White chocolate s'mores do sounds really good...
• Graham crackers: If you don't want to use graham crackers, you can use vanilla wafers or Oreos!

A healthier dessert recipe

When you looked at the list of ingredients above, did you notice a few items that sounds like "healthy" versions of baking ingredients? That's because I use nutrient-rich swaps to make all of my recipes as healthy as possible!

Almond Flour
I love to use almond flour in place of regular all-purpose flour. It contains extra nutrients, like protein!

Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a great baking oil option. In my opinion, it's healthier than commonly used oils like vegetable and canola!

Maple Syrup
Rather than using granulated sugar, I love to use all-natural maple syrup. It has less chemicals and preservatives, and more deliciously sweet flavor!

Chocolate Chips
Finally, I always opt for all-natural chocolate chips. Like with the maple syrup, this option has worlds less preservatives than what you'll find in heavily processed options.

More delicious bar ideas

A good bar recipe can do wonders for our taste buds! I love to switch it up from time to time by rotating through these delicious ideas. Which will you be trying next?

• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
• Healthy Cookie Dough Bars
• Berry Crumble Bars (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan)
• Healthy Lemon Bars (Gluten-Free)
• Chocolate Almond Butter Shortbread Bars (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa